Best of November 2023

November has been another incredible month for K-Pop comebacks this year. From idol groups to soloists, so many amazing new releases have entered the music world for us to obsess over and play on repeat. With so many tracks to choose from, here are just some of my favorite B-sides of November 2023. 

“Hate You” - Jungkook

A beautifully, melancholic ballad from Jungkook’s debut solo album GOLDEN, “Hate You” reveals a softer and more delicate side to Jungkook’s vocals that hadn’t been shown through his recent solo material until now. Sung entirely in English against a dramatic piano composition, Jungkook sings from a heartbroken perspective of a relationship coming to an end with him finding it easier to numb the pain by hating the person he loves rather than accepting the truth. He sings, “Paint you like the villain that you never were / I’m gonna hate you / For things that you don’t do”* and “It’s not the truth / It’s not the cure / But hating you’s the only way it doesn't hurt.”* Together, the composition, lyrics, and Jungkook’s vocals capture a cinematic presence that makes “Hate You” a standout track on his album. 

“HONEY” - The Boyz

As a casual listener of The Boyz, I have always been impressed by the music that I have heard from them, but the songs from their latest and second album [PHANTASY] Pt.2 Sixth Sense take The Boyz’s music to a whole new level. The third track “Honey” is my favorite on the album, performed by two of the group’s rap members, Sunwoo and Eric. From the extremely captivating refrain that opens the song with “Honey, honey, honey, workin’ for ya like a bee,”* to the enticing vocals that weave in and out of sensual deep tones and higher, melodic sounds, “Honey” provides seductive K-Pop realness that has pulled me deeper into the exciting world of The Boyz. 

“한나두 (Not At All)”- BANG YEDAM

I hate the fact that I had not listened to any of BANG YEDAM’s work until the release of his debut EP, ONLY ONE, but late is better than never, right? I am amazed by his voice! His vocals are a delight to listen to, especially in the EP’s fifth track “한나두 (Not At All),” a charming pop song that is made even more charming by his rich, R&B vocal tones. The lyrics of “한나두 (Not At All)” relay a message of moving on from the past with him “too strong to break me down,”* wrapped in a fun and uplifting melody that is addictive and makes me want to indulge in more of BANG YEDAM’s music. 

*lyrics and lyric translations from Genius

Edited by Cara Musashi